Donated trees brighten holidays for S.F. public housing residents

Denice Delema’s apartment at Holly Courts is small and dark, with windows that make it “look like we’re in jail.” But for the noble fir standing proudly near the front door, the surroundings sure beat the wood chipper.

With her daughter and son-in-law out of town and her boyfriend away visiting family, Delema did the math and decided against having a Christmas tree this year — opting to use her tree budget to pay bills instead.

That changed Sunday. Delema and 89 of her neighbors at Holly Courts — the oldest public housing property in the Housing Authority portfolio, and the oldest public housing west of the Mississippi — have Christmas trees courtesy of the Guardsmen, the longtime Presidio-based men’s charity group.